The Government of Canary Islands will implement a direct aid worth about eight million euros aimed at compensating for the increase in the costs of inputs assumed by the Canary Islands farmers since the COVID pandemic and as a consequence of the war conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The announcement was made this Friday by the Minister of the Area, Narvay Quintero, who explained that this support line includes a supplement for women, young people, and farmers with farms on non-capital islands.
The increase in feed prices since the beginning of the war exceeds 39.3% in practically all livestock subsectors, and if compared to those of 2020, the increase is 51.7%.
"Producers in the livestock sector also have serious difficulties in transferring this increase in costs along the chain, so their profit margins are being seriously compromised, which endangers the maintenance of an essential sector in our islands, which guarantees the supply of our markets, is fundamental to maintain and reactivate the rural areas of the Canary Islands, and contributes to reducing our external dependence," Quintero said.
In this context, the European Commission adopted a Temporary Crisis Framework on March 23, 2022, to allow Member States to take advantage of the flexibility provided for in the rules on State aid in order to support the economy in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Thus, the competent authorities can grant aid for limited amounts in the form of a direct subsidy to companies or self-employed persons affected by the crisis.
"For all this, from this Canarian Government we have established as a priority to seek the necessary funds to try to alleviate this increase in the price of raw materials that directly affects our farmers," said the Minister.
An additional 5% for farmers from Lanzarote
During his speech, the Director General of Livestock highlighted that a complementary aid will be granted consisting of an additional 5% when the beneficiary of the farm is a woman and/or young person (that is, under 41 years of age at the time of granting), and 16% when the farm is located on the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma.
The beneficiaries of these subsidies may be active companies or self-employed persons who own livestock farms of goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, rabbits and poultry that are registered in the Register of Livestock Farms of the Canary Islands, with a duly updated census according to current regulations, and that have at least 5 LSU (Livestock Unit).
This measure will be compatible with other subsidies, aid, income or resources for the same purpose or different purpose, from any administration or public or private entity, national, from the European Union or international organizations, provided that its accumulation in relation to the approved action does not exceed the limits provided for in the regulations of the European Union, which is applicable, that is, 270,000 euros.
